By Guest Writers, National Catholic Register – As a college student, Johnson encounters Planned Parenthood at a career fair, and—given the organization’s efforts to “empower women”—decides to give volunteering there a try. When she encounters the sidewalk counselors praying at the fence around the parking lot, their actions and attitude rile her, making her more committed to Planned Parenthood.

Catholic News Agency – Catholic News Agency – Darkness and danger have surrounded and hounded Frodo, the little hobbit ultimately given the mission to destroy the ring, ever since he set foot out of the Shire, the idyllic and safe home he left behind for this quest… “The day comes when (the Hobbits are) called out of their homes and into a great war between good and evil for the soul of the wider world – a war in which they play the decisive role, precisely because they’re small and so seemingly unimportant,” he said.

By Fr. Nnamdi Moneme, OMV, Catholic Exchange – The disciples followed Jesus up the high mountain unquestioningly. They did not ask, “Where are you leading us, Jesus?” In Eucharistic adoration, we approach Jesus too with that humble unquestioning faith that says, “Jesus I don’t completely understand but I believe that you are here present simply because of your word to me. I believe that you are the one drawing me into your presence. I have come to simply worship you. Please help my unbelief.”

NEWS

Fr. Mike Schmitz, Ascension Press – Fr. Mike discusses four signs that your relationship is falling apart, especially when it comes to stonewalling. Stonewalling, as used in the context of this video, is when we refuse to communicate or cooperate with someone… Psychologist Dr. John Gottman calls it one of the “four horsemen of the apocalypse”, or one of four types of expression that indicate that your relationship is falling apart. The other three are defensiveness, criticism, and contempt.

The Safe World: Protection and Dignity for All

By Paul Kniaz, Catholic Stand – …I think the reason this section of the Catechism, titled “The Human Community” and subtitled “Social Justice”, is peppered with the word dignity is because it is the key word for navigating social justice and human interactions. However, it’s the Church’s definition of the word that gives it importance. The Catechism explains dignity in these words: Created in the image of the one God and equally endowed with rational souls, all men have the same nature and the same origin. Redeemed by the sacrifice of Christ, all are called to participate in the same divine beatitude: all therefore enjoy an equal dignity. (CCC 1934)

The Fraud of Higher Education, by Benjamin Myers

By Benjamin Myers, First Things – Private colleges that want to survive and even thrive must rediscover the pursuit of Truth, Goodness, and Beauty. Few “consultants” understand this, but devotion to the summum bonum, to a deeper understanding of human thriving, is the path to healthy academic institutions. It is also good business. The classical education movement in K-12 education is rapidly growing across the country, with many students and parents looking for a more meaningful form of education than the dreary factories we call public schools.

Evangelical Approval of Trump Remains High, but Other Religious Groups are Less Supportive

By Philip Schwadel, Gregory A. Smith, Pew Research Center – More than two years into Donald Trump’s presidency, white evangelical Protestants in the United States continue to overwhelmingly support him, according to a new analysis of Pew Research Center survey data. Other religious groups, however, are more divided in their views of the president… Roughly seven-in-ten white evangelical Protestants (69%) say they approve of the way Trump is handling his job as president, according to the Center’s latest polling in January 2019.

Bishop Schneider Discusses How the Church Should Handle a Heretical Pope

By Diane Montagna, LifeSiteNews – Unprecedented times call for unprecedented discussions, and unprecedented discussions require courageous souls… Many Catholics regard Bishop Athanasius Schneider as one of these souls. .. In his latest statement published on March 20, he has taken up questions that more and more people are asking throughout the world: can the Roman Pontiff hold heretical doctrines? If so, what does the doctrine of papal infallibility teach? How should the Catholic world — cardinals, bishops, clergy, and laity — respond to such a situation?

Msgr. Charles Pope: Learning the Lessons of Lazarus and the Rich Man

By Msgr. Charles Pope – The well-known story of Lazarus and the rich man was read at Mass this morning (Thursday of the Second Week of Lent). On one level the message of the story seems plain enough: neglecting the poor is a damnable sin. However, there are other important teachings: about death, judgment, Heaven, and Hell. Those teachings are hidden in the details, but the subtlety is part of the story’s beauty. Let’s take a look at some of the teachings, beginning with the obvious one.

Rev. James V. Schall: Proper Liturgy Needs Doctrinal Truth

By Rev. James V. Schall, S.J., Crisis Magazine – Liturgical thought today seems to downplay the importance of doctrine while elevating the significance of practice. The harmony of lex orandi as the criterion of lex credendi is questioned. Dogma and liturgy seem to have parted company. We have to choose which side we are on: doctrine and its pastoral application together or merely the latter severed from doctrinal truth.

Media Mum as Christians Die: Genocide in Nigeria

By John Stonestreet, CNSNews – Last summer on BreakPoint, I talked about the violence targeting Christians in what’s known as the “middle belt” of Nigeria. The population of Nigeria is almost evenly divided between Muslims and Christians. That religious split largely follows geographic lines: The northern part of the country is predominantly Muslim, the eastern and southern parts of the country heavily Christian.

By Brittany Hughes, LifeNews – Let’s break down Wen’s claim using actual facts: firstly, the claim that late-term abortions are “rare.”
While not nearly as common as early abortions performed in the first trimester, abortions performed at or after 24 weeks are hardly “rare.” In fact, the CDC estimates that roughly 13,000 of these late-term abortions are performed in the United States every single year. That’s enough unborn babies to fill up about half the L.A. Chargers football stadium.

Church ‘Blinded by the Mystery of Iniquity,’ Cardinal Sarah Says in New Book, by Jeanne Smits

By Jeanne Smits, LifeSiteNews – In his latest book, Le soir approche et déjà le soir baisse… Cardinal Robert Sarah decided to “speak out” for the “disorientated Catholics” hurting from the deep crisis the Church is going through… “I can no longer remain silent. I may no longer remain silent,” Cardinal Sarah wrote in his opening paragraph. He has taken full measure of the “dark night” of the Church and “She is wrapped and blinded by the mystery of iniquity.”

A Tale of Two Georges, by George Weigel

By George Weigel, First Things – Some years before, Cardinal George had shocked the priests of Chicago by suggesting, almost offhandedly, that while he would die in his bed, his successor would die in jail and that man’s successor would be executed in the public square—after which the martyr’s successor would, as the Church had done so often in the past, help pick up the fragments of a broken civilization and start again. It seems unlikely that, on the night of March 13, 2013, Cardinal George imagined that his hypothetical scenario would be dramatically accelerated, the only difference being that the friend beside him would be the one in jail.

Let This Lent Leave You Different, by Joseph D’Hippolito

By Joseph D’Hippolito, The Stream – God doesn’t want us to become so focused on our failures and mistakes that we don’t see His love in the midst of them. My friend expressed the concept in his own way… “There has to be a balance between realism and potential,” he wrote. “But I have a habit of being dramatic with my words, and I end up denigrating myself. It has occurred to me that I need to treat myself as a friend, and another child of God.”… That approach can help improve relationships with other people… after loving God with your whole heart, mind and strength — is loving your neighbor as yourself…

Pew: Christianity in Europe Strongest Where It Was Banned

By Michael F. Haverluck, OneNewsNow – “The Iron Curtain that once divided Europe may be long gone, but the continent today is split by stark differences in public attitudes toward religion, minorities and social issues – such as gay marriage and legal abortion,” Pew Research reported from its two-year study. “Compared with Western Europeans, fewer Central and Eastern Europeans would welcome Muslims or Jews into their families or neighborhoods, extend the right of marriage to gay or lesbian couples or broaden the definition of national identity to include people born outside their country.”

Fr. Gerald E. Murray: Questions on Two Abuse Cases – and a Good Development

By Fr. Gerald E. Murray, First Things – The Archdiocese of Baltimore recently announced the finding of credible accusations of sexual abuse of adults committed by two bishops: Michael Bransfield, former bishop of Wheeling-Charleston, WV; and Gordon D. Bennett, retired bishop of Mandeville, Jamaica (and earlier, auxiliary bishop of Baltimore).

By Marc Morano, Daily Signal – Most climate change activists cite the greenhouse gas theory—that man-made gases are causing changes to the Earth’s temperature. Christy noted that this theory predicts an increase in frequency of record-breaking temperatures. Yet the exact opposite is happening in the U.S.—the frequency of those temps is declining.

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